Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (2024)

By: Erin

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Did someone say FUDGE? Learn how to make homemade chocolate fudge (the healthy kind) to enjoy this holiday season. You can give it away as a thoughtful gift or save it all for yourself! The best part is that this rich chocolate fudge isn’t just tasty, it’s good for you too!

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (1)

Deliciously Healthy Chocolate Fudge

Rich, chocolate fudge is one of those desserts that is perfect anytime, anywhere! I love a small bite after dinner to satiate my sweet tooth. It’s also a classic addition to every party’s dessert table. Better yet, chocolate fudge is a thoughtful and welcome homemade gift.

This recipe could not be any easier! In fact, if you have to multitask while you make it, you certainly can. It requires no baking, just melting the ingredients together and chilling in the refrigerator.

Since it is so easy to make, it’s a fantastic recipe to make with your kids – as long as they are old enough to work around hot stuff on the stove.

I improved on other classic fudge recipes by using whole ingredients that nourish your body. Almond butter is high in protein and low in saturated fat. Coconut milk is high in healthy fats called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

When you sweeten the fudge with maple syrup, you are adding vital antioxidants to the fudge!

So grab your saucepan and apron, and let’s make some delicious fudge!

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (2)

Ingredients In This Easy Fudge Recipe

Here’s a bit more information about the ingredients I used and how much you’ll need from the store before you begin.

  • Chocolate Chips: It takes 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips to make this fudge.
  • Coconut Milk: You’ll use 1/2 cup of canned coconut milk. Make sure you use the thick white part from the top of the can.
  • Almond Butter: For the smoothest texture, use 1/3 cup of creamy almond butter.
  • Maple Syrup: It only takes 1/4 cup to sweeten the entire batch of fudge.
  • Salt: Just add a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of salt to enhance the flavors in this fudge. I also added flaked salt at the end as a garnish.
  • Vanilla: One teaspoon of pure vanilla extract will add the perfect depth of flavor to this rich dessert.
Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (3)

Kitchen Tools Required

This is a very simple recipe that doesn’t require any special tools or gadgets. In fact, you probably already have everything you need!

For measuring, you will need 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon.

How To Make The Best Chocolate Fudge

This recipe is so simple, that you can make it between other activities in your day! The entire process is written out in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. First, here is a super-quick overview.

In a saucepan, melt together all ingredients exceptvanillaover medium-low heat, stirring often. All of the ingredients should be melted within 5 minutes.

After everything is melted, turn off the heat and stir in thevanilla.

Next, pour the fudge batter into a greased 9×5loaf pan.

Refrigerate the fudge for at least 2 hours. Top with flaked salt and cut into pieces.

That’s it! It really is that simple.

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (4)

Recipe Tips

Below are some common chocolate fudge recipe questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

Is homemade fudge healthy?

You’ll have to decide what qualifies as “healthy” since everyone has different health and nutrition goals. My fudge uses whole ingredients, nothing artificial, and 4.3g of protein in each piece.

To help you decide how healthy it is, I always include a nutrition label at the end of every recipe I publish.

There are lots of ways to change this fudge to meet your health goals too. When you make homemade desserts, YOU control the ingredients!

What does cream of tartar do in fudge?

You might see some recipes that use cream of tartar in the fudge. Some bakers like to use it because it decreases the chances of crystalization happening in the fudge, which helps the fudge to set.

I didn’t use cream of tartar and my fudge is still very rich and solid, without crystalization.

Can I add nuts to this fudge?

Yes, you can certainly add any type of nuts that you want to this fudge. Nuts are an excellent source of protein and healthy fats.

I think some chopped almonds or pecans will taste the best in my chocolate fudge recipe! Chopped walnuts are another option that will taste delicious as well.

Why isn’t my fudge setting?

Make sure you are measuring out the ingredients exactly as listed. I know that with cooking you can kind of eyeball the ingredient amounts, but baking is another story. When you use the exact amounts of each ingredient and then chill it in the refrigerator for at least half an hour, it should harden really well.

Almond butter is a fantastic ingredient to use in fudge. It melts easily and then when you refrigerate it, it hardens up without any extra effort.

Storing leftovers

To store leftover chocolate fudge, I suggest placing it in an airtight container and keeping it in the refrigerator. The fudge will stay fresh for up to a week.

Substitution Tip

Wondering if you can use different ingredients? There are a few ways you can. Take a look at some ways you can change this recipe.

Instead of semisweet chocolate chips, use dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips. Alternatively, you could use sugar-free chocolate chips to keep the sugar amounts lower.

Heavy whipping cream is a simple 1:1 replacement for coconut milk. It has more fat in it, so it alters the nutrition of the fudge.

To sweeten the fudge, use honey instead of maple syrup. It will give you the same taste and texture.

Any type of nut butter will work in this fudge. I used almond butter, but you can substitute it with peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sun butter.

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (5)

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Here are some more of my favorite healthy chocolate recipes. Enjoy!

  • Flourless Double Chocolate Cookies
  • Healthy Chcolate Granola Recipe
  • Paleo Chocolate Cake
  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Tart
  • No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (6)

★★★★★5 from 7 reviews

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe

Did someone say FUDGE? Learn how to make homemade chocolate fudge (the healthy kind) to enjoy this holiday season. You can give it away as a thoughtful gift or save it all for yourself! The best part is that this rich chocolate fudge isn’t just tasty, it’s good for you too!

Prep: 10Cook: 2 hoursTotal: 2 hours 10 minutes

Yield 12 pieces 1x

PrintPin itRate

Ingredients

  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk (thick white part from top of can)
  • 1/3 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • flaked salt

Instructions

  1. In a saucepan, melt together all ingredients except vanilla over medium-low heat, stirring often.
  2. All of the ingredients should be melted within 5 minutes.
  3. Turn off heat and stir in vanilla.
  4. Pour into greased 9×5 loaf pan.
  5. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with flaked salt and cut into pieces.
  6. Store in fridge.

Author: ErinCategory: dessert, snack, dairy-freeMethod: stovetopCuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten Free

There may be affiliate links in this post!By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

Healthy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

Is chocolate fudge good for you? ›

Whether it's chocolate, nut-filled or even swirled with peanut butter, fudge is a holiday favorite. But clocking in at around 130 calories and 5 grams of fat per ounce, this rich treat is far from a healthy choice. ... Fudge also boasts very little in terms of health.

Why won't my 2 ingredient fudge set? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

To fix oily, hard or grainy fudge, scoop the fudge back into a pot with about a cup of water. Cook it over low heat until the fudge dissolves. Then bring the fudge back up to the temperature specified in the recipe and follow the remaining steps. The flavor may be slightly diluted, but the texture will be improved.

What makes high quality fudge? ›

You have to control two temperatures to make successful fudge: the cooking temperature AND the temperature at which the mixture cools before stirring to make it crystallize. Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F).

How do you keep fudge creamy? ›

So, the key to smooth yet firm fudge, pralines, and fondant is to first bring the mixture to a high enough concentration and then let it cool off somewhat before starting to stir. And once you do start to stir, stir fanatically and without stopping for the finest, creamiest texture.

What is the unhealthiest chocolate to eat? ›

White chocolate not only has more saturated fat than any other type of chocolate, but lacks the healthy phytochemicals found in cocoa and dark chocolate.

Is fudge healthier than chocolate? ›

Fudge typically contains more sugar than chocolate, so it may not be the best choice for those looking to limit their sugar intake. On the other hand, dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants and can provide health benefits when consumed in moderation.

What's the difference between fudge and chocolate fudge? ›

Although fudge often contains chocolate, fudge is not the same as chocolate. Chocolate is a mix of cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sometimes sugar and other flavorings and is hard and brittle. Fudge is a mixture of sugar, dairy and flavorings that is cooked and cooled to form a smooth, semi-soft confection.

Why does homemade fudge get hard? ›

If there is too much evaporation, when the cooking time is too long, there will not be enough water left in the fudge and it will be too hard. Conversely, if the cooking time is too brief and there is not enough evaporation, too much water will remain and the fudge will be too soft.

Can you remelt fudge if it doesn't set? ›

To fix it, you can reheat the fudge mixture over low heat and continue cooking until it reaches the proper temperature. Be sure to use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature accurately. Alternatively, you can try to salvage chewy fudge by mixing it into ice cream or using it as a topping for desserts.

Can you redo fudge that didn't set? ›

OPTION 4) If you think the reason it didn't set was because you didn't heat it to the right temperature, you could try putting it back into the pan and re-cooking.

Should I stir fudge while boiling? ›

Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.

What went wrong with my fudge? ›

If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.

What can I do with ruined fudge? ›

Good use of failed fudge: fudge that is too hard, too soft, too runny, too sugary, too chewy, etc. Proportions are as follows: for every 2 cups (roughly 1 pound yield) of any failed fudge that is not runny, you'll need 1 egg, ½ cup all-purpose flour, and ½ cup milk. If fudge is soupy, halve the milk (to ¼ cup).

Should you stir fudge constantly? ›

It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould. Another tip: Do not scrape the sides of the pan or the spoon used for stirring.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

How do you keep fudge smooth? ›

If the sugar crystals are not properly dissolved before cooling, they can create a gritty texture. To avoid this, ensure that you stir the fudge mixture consistently and remove any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a wet pastry brush.

What would cause fudge not to harden? ›

The most common culprit behind unset fudge is inaccurate temperature control. If the sugar mixture hasn't reached the correct temperature, your fudge won't set. Ensure you use a reliable candy thermometer and follow temperature guidelines meticulously to achieve the desired consistency.

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